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Chapter One: Vampire Connoisseur
Fall 2064
Esme Renée seventeen, twelfth grade
Xander Philips
I considered myself a connoisseur.
Of course, there were times…many times… when my thirst took precedence, and I wasn't choosy. Food was food, but there were some who went beyond merely satisfying my thirst.
I was always searching out those exquisite, one-of-a-kind essences. So many I had tasted over the years, so delicious…and yet no two alike.
When I found one of those rare vintages, it wouldn't do to drink them immediately, to have a mere moment's pleasure. Such flavors were meant to be savored, anticipated.
When I found one, I would strike up a friendship with them…the nature of the friendship depended on the person. Females had to be approached differently than males; older people differently than younger.
I drew the line at taking children; I merely marked them and bided my time until they were grown.
Each minute spent in my prey's company was delicious, painful ecstasy. The longer I could hold out, the greater the satisfaction when I finally tasted their wonderful nectar. Ah! Pure, delicious bliss; worth every moment of the wait!
I was wandering through a new town the day I caught the scent that was better than all the rest…put together. I wasn't especially thirsty; if I were too thirsty when searching for rare vintage, I would risk losing the control my years of practice had afforded me.
The girl was walking to her car from the high school building, surrounded by other students. Yet when the wind shifted in my direction, it was her scent alone that I noted. Exotic, spicy…with a strange hint of something else that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I nearly moaned with pleasure just at that first teasing whiff, and swallowed a pool of venom.
Right. First order of business, to find out about her…then to hunt. Every instinct told me I needed to be well-sated to savor this girl as she deserved.
oOo
I was twenty in human years, but like most vampires it was easier for me to pass younger than older; I enrolled as a seventeen-year-old senior in her high school. I managed to schedule all but one of my classes to be with her, and spent the morning watching her, growing accustomed to her scent from across the room. It was safer that way; I was beginning to think I had found what some would call my singer — la tua cantante. After her, anyone else would taste flat and unappealing by contrast.
I nearly shook my head; any other vampire would waste his singer; end it in a moment as if flavors like that were found every day.
Watching her walk through the halls between classes, I saw that she would often walk in a group, but never really seem to be a part of it. She seemed to be caught up in her own thoughts, speaking only when spoken to…not sure of her acceptance.
At lunch she sat beside a small, outgoing girl who appeared about a year younger than she did. Going by looks, I would never have guessed they were related. She had fair skin with a sprinkling of freckles; reddish-brown hair and jade green eyes. The other girl had dark skin, brown eyes, and hair that was truly black even to a vampire's eyes. But something about her scent told me they had to be sisters; she had that same indefinable something. But she didn't draw me as her sister did, and I wasn't sure whether to be glad or sorry. I had never tried for two at once…
As I was pondering it, the smaller girl suddenly looked toward me, meeting my eyes across the crowded cafeteria. She scowled, frowning at me as if she had somehow guessed my plans. For once, it was I who broke eye contact with a human.
oOo
I arrived a minute or two late to biology and scanned the room, a slow smile crossing my face as I realized the only empty seat was beside her. I drew a deep breath before crossing the room; savoring her scent might be the whole point, but it was still best to be cautious at first.
"It looks like we're partners," I said, sliding into the seat beside her. "I'm Xander Philips."
She smiled shyly, but didn't respond.
"What's your name?" I prompted; I knew, of course, but I wanted to hear it from her lips.
"Esme Renée Morrello," she responded.
"Esme Renée Morrello," I murmured, savoring the feel of the name as it rolled over my tongue for the first time. "What a beautiful name."
A faint blush tinged her cheeks, and I swallowed hard. I might not be able to wait very long for this girl… "What do you go by?"
"Renée…my mother calls me Esme Renée."
"Which do you prefer?"
She shrugged. "Either is fine."
I wondered how anyone could call this exquisite creature something as common as Renée; she was Esme Renée.
Next chapter coming next week!
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